NEWS

Around Europe and the Middle East in seven stories…

FOOD & DRINK

LATTE LEVY FOR IRELAND

A NEW INITIATIVE to restrict the use of disposable coffee cups is to be introduced in the Republic of Ireland, with a charge being put in place in the coming months.

The scheme aims to incentivise the use of recycled and reusable alternatives to single-use disposable packaging, such as takeaway coffee cups. It will additionally pave the way for using CCTV to detect and deter illegal dumping and littering.

Some Irish cafés have already removed disposable cups entirely and have cited considerable progress achieved already.

AUTOMOTIVE CZECH POLICE COP NEW SUPERCAR

Police in the Czech Republic have unveiled the latest addition to their fleet of patrol vehicles, a Ferrari capable of speeds up to 202mph. Police confiscated the supercar from criminals and the €12,000 cost of converting it for police use was about the same price as buying a new Skoda hatchback, the current standard police vehicle in use.

Among other things, the Ferrari 458 Italia will be used for cracking down on illegal road races and chasing stolen cars. Featuring fluorescent yellow and blue stripes, the rapid roadster will be used by the special surveillance department and driven by specially trained officers.

FINANCE INFLATION ACROSS THE NATION

AMAZON HAS ANNOUNCED it will raise the price of its Prime service for UK customers due to higher operating costs.

Starting in September, monthly subscribers will be asked to cough up an extra £1 a month, rising to a total of £8.99, whilst annual membership will rise from £79 to £95.

Amazon said the price rise, which is its first in the UK since 2014, was mainly due to inflation, which is currently soaring at a 40-year high.

Other platforms such as Netflix have also recently increased subscription prices, despite data suggesting people are beginning to cut back on streaming services.

OIL & GAS GROWING FEARS OVER PUTIN’S GAS LIMITATIONS

EXPERTS FEAR A winter of rationing and certain recession as Russia’s energy giant Gazprom further tightens its hold on gas supplies to Europe. The expected drops in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which are due to come in place later this month, are of particular concern for Germany, as supply will fall to just 20 percent capacity.

Gazprom has commented that the reduction is the result of halting operations on a Siemens Energy gas turbine in need of repair, whilst Germany is certain that there is no technical need for such a reduction. Nord Stream 1 is Russia’s single largest gas link to Europe.

ENERGY & UTILITIES SUNAK TO ECONOMISE ENERGY

AS THE UK continues to search for new Tory leadership, hopeful candidate Rishi Sunak has made a bold move to win favour.

The former chancellor has vowed to cut the five percent VAT rate applied to household energy bills. Labelled ‘the winter plan’, VAT through the scheme would be scrapped for one year starting this October, if the price cap on bills surpasses £3,000 for an average household.

Sunak claims that his motive is to help families with rising living costs, while others critique the announcement as a desperate tactical shift to recover his position in the opinion polls of Conservative party members.

SUSTAINABILITY WOOD-N’T IT BE NICE

VOLKSWAGEN-BACKED NORTHVOLT IS developing wood-based batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Northvolt will partner with Stora Enso to develop batteries that incorporate components produced using wood, sourced from forests in the Nordic region.

A joint development agreement between the two firms will see them work together on the production of a battery containing an anode made from lignin-based hard carbon, a plant-derived polymer found in the cell walls of dry-land plants and trees. The aim is to develop the world’s first industrialised battery sourced entirely from sustainable European raw materials.

AEROSPACE CHARTERING A NEW COURSE

THE UK’S ‘UBER of private jet bookings’, Mirai Flights, has signed a major contract with three charter brokers in the Middle East region, soon to commence operations.

The tech start-up service for instant booking of charter flights will enter the Middle East with these three new deals, as it seeks to capitalise on the robust and substantial demand for luxury travel from the ultra-rich demographic of prospective clients.

Adding Middle Eastern brokers to the service is a crucial step in achieving the company’s main aim to automate the business aviation booking process.